Method and apparatus for allocating uplink resources for mbms uplink feedback information

Abstract

The present disclosure describes methods, systems, and devices for allocating uplink resources for multimedia broadcast multicast (MBMS) uplink feedback information. The method includes a radio access network (RAN) transmitting at least one multicast traffic channel (MTCH) transmission in an MBMS service to at least one user equipment (UE). The method also includes the RAN allocating at least one resource for the at least one UE to transmit MBMS related uplink feedback information corresponding to the at least one MTCH transmission.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present disclosure relates generally to wireless communications. In particular, the present disclosure relates to methods and apparatuses for allocating uplink resources for Multimedia Broadcast Multicast (MBMS) uplink feedback information. BACKGROUND

[0002] Wireless communication technology is pushing the world towards an increasingly connected and networked society. High speed and low latency wireless communications rely on efficient network resource management and allocation between User Equipment (UE) and Radio Access Network nodes, including but not limited to Radio Access Network (RAN). The RAN can communicate with one or more UEs in Multimedia Broadcast Multicast (MBMS) services. The present disclosure can address problems and / or challenges in allocating uplink resources for MBMS uplink feedback information. SUMMARY

[0003] The present disclosure relates generally to methods, systems, and devices for wireless communications, and more particularly, to methods, systems, and devices for allocating uplink resources for Multimedia Broadcast Multicast (MBMS) uplink feedback information.

[0004] In one embodiment, the present disclosure describes a method for wireless communication. The method includes allocating uplink resources for Multimedia Broadcast Multicast (MBMS) uplink feedback information by: a Radio Access Network (RAN) transmitting at least one Multicast Traffic Channel (MTCH) transmission in an MBMS service to at least one User Equipment (UE); and the RAN allocating at least one resource for the at least one UE to transmit MBMS related uplink feedback information corresponding to the at least one MTCH transmission.

[0005] In another embodiment, the present disclosure describes a method for wireless communication. The method includes allocating uplink resources for Multimedia Broadcast Multicast (MBMS) uplink feedback information by: a User Equipment (UE) receiving configuration information for a feedback window corresponding to a Multicast Traffic Channel (MTCH) transmission in an MBMS service from a Radio Access Network (RAN); and the UE determining a resource unit in the feedback window for transmitting MBMS related uplink feedback information corresponding to the MTCH transmission.

[0006] In another embodiment, the present disclosure describes a method for wireless communication. The method includes allocating uplink resources for uplink feedback information related to a physical downlink control channel (PDCCH) and for multimedia broadcast multicast (MBMS) uplink feedback information by: a radio access network (RAN) allocating a user equipment (UE) an uplink feedback channel resource corresponding to a PDCCH scheduling a physical downlink shared channel (PDSCH), the uplink feedback channel resource being shared by at least one UE receiving the PDCCH transmitted from the RAN; the RAN allocating the UE the uplink feedback channel resource corresponding to the PDSCH carrying multicast traffic channel (MTCH) transport data, the uplink feedback channel resource being shared by at least one UE receiving the PDSCH transmitted from the RAN; and the UE transmitting uplink feedback information on the uplink feedback channel resource according to a pre-determined rule.

[0007] In some other embodiments, an apparatus for wireless communication can include a memory storing instructions and a processing circuitry in communication with the memory. When the processing circuitry executes the instructions, the processing circuitry is configured to perform the above method.

[0008] In some other embodiments, an apparatus for wireless communication can include a memory storing instructions and a processing circuitry in communication with the memory. When the processing circuitry executes the instructions, the processing circuitry is configured to perform the above method.

[0009] In some other embodiments, a computer-readable medium includes instructions that, when executed by a computer, cause the computer to perform the above method.

[0010] The above and other aspects and implementations are described in more detail in the accompanying drawings, descriptions, and claims. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0011] Figure 1A An example of point-to-point communication in a wireless communication system is shown.

[0012] Figure 1B An example of multicast communication in a wireless communication system is shown.

[0013] Figure 2 An example of a wireless network node is shown.

[0014] Figure 3 An example of a user equipment is shown.

[0015] Figure 4 A flowchart of a method for wireless communication is shown.

[0016] Figure 5 A flowchart of a method for wireless communication is shown.

[0017] Figure 6 A flow diagram illustrating a method for wireless communication is shown.

[0018] Figure 7 A diagram illustrating a method for wireless communication is shown.

[0019] Figure 8 A diagram illustrating a method for wireless communication is shown. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0020] The disclosure will now be described in detail by way of specific examples with reference to the attached drawings, which form a part of this disclosure. It should be noted that the disclosure can be implemented in various different forms and, therefore, should not be limited to any specific examples set forth herein.

[0021] Throughout the specification and claims, the term can have a connotation suggested or implied in context beyond the explicit statement. Also, the phrase "in one embodiment" or "in some embodiments" as used herein does not necessarily refer to the same embodiment, and the phrase "in another embodiment" or "in other embodiments" as used herein does not necessarily refer to a different embodiment. The phrase "in one implementation" or "in some implementations" as used herein does not necessarily refer to the same implementation, and the phrase "in another implementation" or "in other implementations" as used herein does not necessarily refer to a different implementation. For example, the claimed subject matter is intended to encompass combinations of entire or partial embodiments or implementations.

[0022] Generally, the term can be understood, at least partially, from usage in context. For example, terms such as "and", "or", or "and / or" as used herein can include a variety of meanings that can depend, at least partially, upon the context in which such terms are used. Typically, "or" if used to associate a list, such as A, B, or C, is intended to mean A, B, and C, here used in the inclusive sense, as well as A, B or C, here used in the exclusive sense. In addition, the term "one or more" or "at least one" as used herein can be used to describe any feature, structure, or characteristic in the singular or can be used to describe combinations of features, structures or characteristics in the plural, depending at least in part on the context in which such terms are used. Similarly, terms, such as "a", "an" or "the", same can be understood to convey a singular usage or to convey a plural usage, depending at least in part on the context in which such terms are used. Additionally, the term "based on" or "determined based on" can be understood as not necessarily intended to convey an exclusive set of factors, and instead can allow for existence of additional factors not necessarily expressly described herein, again, depending at least in part on the context in which such terms are used.

[0023] The present disclosure describes methods and apparatuses for allocating uplink resources for multimedia broadcast multicast (MBMS) uplink feedback information.

[0024] Next Generation (NG) or 5th Generation (5G) wireless communications can provide a range of capabilities from fast downloads to support for real-time low-latency communications. Wireless communications can have multimedia broadcast multicast (MBMS) services. A radio access network (RAN), such as a wireless base station, can transmit the same data to multiple UEs at the same time. In some cases, multiple base stations can transmit the same data at the same time, such that a particular UE can receive the same data from multiple base stations.

[0025] Figure 1A and 1B Various transmission modes of a wireless communication system 100 are shown, including a core network (CN) 110, a radio access network (RAN) 130, and one or more user equipment (UE) (152, 154, and 156). The RAN 130 can include a wireless network base station or NG radio access network (NG-RAN) base station or node, which can include a nodeB (NB) (e.g., gNB) in a mobile telecommunication environment. In one implementation, the core network 110 can include a 5G core network (5GC), and the interface 125 can include an NG interface.

[0026] Communications between the RAN and one or more UEs can include at least multimedia broadcast multicast (MBMS) services and / or unicast services. A UE can receive data from the RAN via point-to-point (PTP) or unicast services, and / or via point-to-multipoint (PTM) or multicast or broadcast services.

[0027] Referring to Figure 1A The first UE 152 can wirelessly receive communications from the RAN 130 via a downlink unicast 142 and wirelessly transmit communications to the RAN 130 via an uplink channel 141. Likewise, the second UE 154 can wirelessly receive communications from the RAN 130 via a downlink unicast 144 and wirelessly transmit communications to the RAN 130 via an uplink channel 143; and the third UE 156 can wirelessly receive communications from the RAN 130 via a downlink unicast 146 and wirelessly transmit communications to the RAN 130 via an uplink channel 145.

[0028] Referring to Figure 1BRAN 130 can wirelessly communicate with one or more UEs (152, 154, and 156) via the Multicast Traffic Channel (MTCH) in MBMS service 160. In one embodiment, a first UE 152 can wirelessly transmit communication to RAN 130 via uplink channel 161. Similarly, a second UE 154 can wirelessly transmit communication to RAN 130 via uplink channel 163; and a third UE 156 can wirelessly transmit communication to RAN 130 via uplink channel 165.

[0029] exist Figure 1A and 1B In the wireless communication system 100, the RAN 130 can send MTCH transmissions from an MBMS service to one or more UEs. Several issues or challenges may arise, including the UE not providing Hybrid Automatic Repeat Request Acknowledgement / Negative-Acknowledgement (HARQ-ACK / NACK) information to the RAN. HARQ-ACK information can indicate whether the MTCH transmission was correctly received by the UE. At least due to these issues and / or challenges, if at least one UE did not correctly receive the previous transmission of the MTCH, the transmission will not be retransmitted. MBMS is a broadcast service; for example, MTCH transmissions can always be sent to different UEs via point-to-multipoint (PTM), and these UEs may not provide uplink feedback information such as HARQ-ACK, Channel State Information (CSI), etc. Uplink feedback mechanisms for an MTCH transmission can be complex; for example, designing uplink feedback channel resources for an MBMS service can be challenging. Retransmitting the MTCH for a UE once it has provided a NACK for the transmission is also a challenge. Using upstream feedback information in MBMS operations is challenging, at least due to the aforementioned issues and / or difficulties.

[0030] In the wireless communication system 100, a Medium Access Control (MAC) layer can group MBMS service data or at least one MTCH transport data into data packets, which can then be sent to a physical layer. At the physical layer, the data packets are transmitted through a Physical Downlink Shared Channel (PDSCH) and scheduled through a Physical Downlink Control Channel (PDCCH). A decoding result of the PDSCH corresponding to the MTCH transport data can be used as uplink feedback information and sent to a base station through an uplink feedback channel resource (corresponding to the MTCH transport included in the PDSCH). Thus, the uplink feedback channel resource corresponds to one MTCH transport, i.e., to one PDSCH carrying the MTCH transport. The uplink feedback information corresponds to one MTCH transport, i.e., to one PDSCH carrying the MTCH transport. The following description can focus on the MTCH only as an example.

[0031] The present disclosure describes various embodiments for allocating uplink resources for Multimedia Broadcast Multicast (MBMS) uplink feedback information, addressing at least one of the aforementioned deficiencies and / or problems.

[0032] Figure 2 An exemplary wireless access network or wireless communication base station 200 is shown. The base station 200 can include wireless transmitting / receiving (Tx / Rx) circuitry 208 to transmit / receive communications with one or more UEs and / or one or more other base stations. The base station can also include network interface circuitry 209 to enable the base station to communicate with other base stations and / or a core network, e.g., optical or wired interconnections, Ethernet and / or other data transmission media / protocols. The base station 200 can optionally include input / output (I / O) interface 206 to communicate with operators, etc.

[0033] The base station can also include system circuitry 204. The system circuitry 204 can include processor(s) 221 and / or memory 222. The memory 222 can include an operating system 224, instructions 226, and parameters 228. The instructions 226 can be configured for the processor(s) 124 to perform the functions of the base station. The parameters 228 can include parameters to support the execution of the instructions 226. For example, the parameters can include network protocol settings, bandwidth parameters, radio frequency mapping allocations, and / or other parameters.

[0034] Figure 3An example user equipment (UE) 300 is shown. The UE 300 can be a mobile device, such as a smartphone or a mobile communication module disposed in a vehicle. The UE 300 can include a communication interface 302, system circuitry 304, input / output interface (I / O) 306, display circuitry 308, and storage 309. The display circuitry can include a user interface 310. The system circuitry 304 can include any combination of hardware, software, firmware, or other logic / circuitry. The system circuitry 304 can be implemented, for example, with one or more Systems on Chips (SoCs), Application Specific Integrated Circuits (ASICs), discrete analog and digital circuits, and other circuitry. The system circuitry 304 can be part of the implementation of any desired functionality in the UE 300. In this regard, the system circuitry 304 can include, for example, logic to facilitate decoding and playing music and videos, such as MP3, MP4, MPEG, AVI, FLAC, AC3, or WAV decoding and playback; running applications; accepting user input; saving and retrieving application data; establishing, maintaining, and terminating cellular telephone calls or data connections, such as for Internet connectivity; establishing, maintaining, and terminating wireless network connections, Bluetooth connections, or other connections; and displaying relevant information on the user interface 310. The user interface 310 and input / output (I / O) interface 306 can include a graphical user interface, a touch-sensitive display, tactile feedback or other haptic output, voice or facial recognition input, buttons, switches, a speaker, and other user interface elements. Additional examples of I / O interface 306 can include a microphone, a video and still image camera, a temperature sensor, a vibration sensor, a rotation and orientation sensor, earphone and microphone input / output jacks, a Universal Serial Bus (USB) connector, a memory card slot, a radiation sensor (e.g., an IR sensor), and other types of input.

[0035] Reference is made to Figure 3The communication interface 302 can include radio frequency (RF) transmit (Tx) and receive (Rx) circuitry 316 that processes transmitted and received signals via one or more antennas 314. The communication interface 302 can include one or more transceivers. A transceiver can be a wireless transceiver that includes modulation / demodulation circuitry, digital to analog converters (DACs), shaping tables, analog to digital converters (ADCs), filters, wave shapers, pre-amplifiers, power amplifiers, and / or other logic used for transmission and reception through one or more antennas or, for some devices, through physical (e.g., wired) media. The signals transmitted and received can conform to any of a number of formats, protocols, modulation schemes (e.g., QPSK, 16-QAM, 64-QAM, or 256-QAM), frequency channels, code rates, and encodings. As one specific example, the communication interface 302 can include transceivers that support transmission and reception under the 2G, 3G, BT, WiFi, Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS), High Speed Packet Access (HSPA)+, 4G / Long Term Evolution (LTE), and 5G standards. However, the technology described below is applicable to other wireless communication technologies, whether the technology is produced by the 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP), GSM Association, 3GPP2, IEEE, or other partnership or standards body.

[0036] Reference Figure 3 The system circuitry 304 can include one or more processors 321 and memory 322. The memory 322 stores, for example, an operating system 324, instructions 326, and parameters 328. The processor 321 is configured to execute the instructions 326 to perform the desired functions of the UE 300. The parameters 328 can provide and specify configuration and operational options for the instructions 326. The memory 322 can also store any BT, WiFi, 3G, 4G, 5G, or other data that the UE 300 will transmit or has received through the communication interface 302. In various implementations, the system power of the UE 300 can be supplied by a power storage device, such as a battery or a transformer.

[0037] The present disclosure describes several embodiments of methods and apparatuses for allocating uplink resources for Multimedia Broadcast Multicast (MBMS) uplink feedback information, which can be partially or entirely in the context ofFigure 2 and Figure 3 implemented on a wireless network base station and / or user equipment as described in

[0038] In various embodiments, referring to Figure 4 Method 400 for wireless communication includes allocating uplink resources for Multimedia Broadcast Multicast (MBMS) uplink feedback information. Method 400 can include some or all of the following steps: step 410, a Radio Access Network (RAN) sending at least one Multicast Traffic Channel (MTCH) transmission in an MBMS service to at least one User Equipment (UE); and step 420, the RAN allocating at least one resource for the at least one UE to send MBMS related uplink feedback information corresponding to the at least one MTCH transmission.

[0039] In one embodiment, the RAN can allocate an uplink feedback channel resource for each of the at least one UE, and the uplink feedback channel resource is allocated for sending MBMS related uplink feedback information corresponding to each MTCH transmission. In this embodiment, for a UE corresponding to a received MTCH, the uplink feedback channel resource is configured for the UE receiving the MTCH. The MTCH can represent an MBMS service transmission.

[0040] In one implementation, the uplink feedback channel resource can be a Physical Uplink Control Channel (PUCCH). In the following description, PUCCH can be used as an exemplary means of uplink feedback channel resource.

[0041] When the UE receiving the MTCH needs to send uplink feedback information, the base station or RAN can allocate a PUCCH corresponding to the MTCH to the UE, and the UE can use the allocated PUCCH. The uplink feedback information can include, for example, but not limited to, a Hybrid Automatic Repeat Request Acknowledgement (HARQ-ACK), Channel State Information (CSI), etc.

[0042] Method 400 can include the RAN sending configuration information to the UE via a configuration message. The configuration information is used for sending MBMS related uplink feedback information. The configuration message can include, for example, but not limited to, a Single Cell Multicast Control Channel (SC-MCCH) message, a Radio Resource Control (RRC) message, etc. Based on the configuration information, the RAN can allocate resources for the at least one UE to send MBMS related uplink feedback information.

[0043] In one embodiment, when one or more UEs receive a first MTCH and need to send uplink feedback information for the first MTCH, each UE uses the PUCCH assigned to them corresponding to the first MTCH. When some other UEs receive a second MTCH and need to send uplink feedback information for the second MTCH, each UE uses the PUCCH assigned to them corresponding to the second MTCH.

[0044] In another embodiment, the RAN can assign an uplink feedback channel resource for each of one or more MTCH transmissions and allocate the uplink feedback channel resource for all UEs receiving each MTCH transmission. The UEs can use the assigned uplink feedback channel resource to send MBMS related uplink feedback information corresponding to each MTCH transmission.

[0045] In one embodiment, one or more UEs receive the same MTCH and can need to send corresponding uplink feedback information for the MTCH. The RAN can allocate a corresponding uplink feedback channel resource for all UEs receiving the MTCH. The UEs can share the same uplink feedback channel resource for sending corresponding uplink feedback information for the MTCH. For example, when two UEs (UE1 and UE2) receive the MTCH and need to send uplink feedback information for the MTCH, UE1 and UE2 use the same PUCCH resource for uplink feedback information transmission. The base station can configure the PUCCH resource for each MTCH and UE1 and UE2 receiving the same MTCH can use the same uplink feedback channel resource. In this embodiment, when UE1 and UE2 need to send feedback information, the same PUCCH resource is used for the MTCH, thereby saving resources.

[0046] In another embodiment, the RAN can configure UE1 and UE2 with respective uplink feedback channel resources for the MTCH. For example, when UE1 and UE2 need to send uplink feedback information for the MTCH, UE1 and UE2 use respective uplink feedback channel resources corresponding to the MTCH.

[0047] In another embodiment, when one or more UEs share the same uplink feedback channel resource for sending the corresponding uplink feedback information for the MTCH, the method 400 can include setting different signal strength thresholds for different number of UEs sending feedback signals. For example, a first signal strength threshold can correspond to 4 UEs sending feedback signals; while a second signal strength threshold can correspond to 8 UEs sending feedback signals. The second signal strength threshold can be greater than the first signal strength threshold because the second signal strength threshold corresponds to more UEs. Thus, the RAN can obtain the number of feedback UEs to decide whether to retransmit the corresponding MTCH. In another embodiment, the RAN can decide whether to retransmit the corresponding MTCH based on the comparison of the received signal strength and the different signal strength thresholds.

[0048] In another embodiment, the RAN can allocate uplink feedback channel resources for multiple MTCH transmissions and allocate the uplink feedback channel resources to the UEs for sending MBMS related uplink feedback information corresponding to the multiple MTCH transmissions.

[0049] In one embodiment, the RAN can allocate the same uplink feedback channel resource corresponding to multiple MTCHs. For example, the same uplink feedback channel resource can be configured for multiple MTCH transmissions including a first MTCH transmission (MTCH1) and a second MTCH (MTCH2) through the SC-MCCH or RRC. The RAN can configure the feedback information corresponding to the first MTCH and the second MTCH to be sent via the same uplink feedback channel resource, thereby saving uplink feedback channel resources. For a UE configured with the same uplink feedback channel resource for the first MTCH and the second MTCH, when the UE needs to send uplink feedback information for the first MTCH and / or the second MTCH, the UE can send the uplink feedback information in the same allocated uplink feedback channel resource.

[0050] In another embodiment, the RAN can allocate a set of uplink feedback channel resources for each MTCH transmission and allocate the set of uplink feedback channel resources to one or more UEs receiving each MTCH transmission. The one or more UEs can use the set of resources to send MBMS related uplink feedback information corresponding to each MTCH transmission.

[0051] In one embodiment, the RAN can configure the UE with a set of uplink feedback channel resources corresponding to one MTCH. The set can include one or more feedback channel resources, and different uplink feedback channel resources have different maximum numbers of transmission bits. The UE can determine an uplink feedback channel resource from the set of uplink feedback channel resources according to the number of transmission bits for the UE. In another embodiment, the RAN can allocate the same set of uplink feedback channel resources for multiple MTCHs to share. For example, the RAN can configure multiple MTCHs via an SC-MCCH or an RRC message such that they share the same set of uplink feedback channel resources.

[0052] In another embodiment, the method 400 can include that the UE can transmit uplink feedback information corresponding to at least one physical downlink control channel (PDCCH) transmission using the allocated resources. The transmission of uplink feedback information corresponding to a PDCCH can apply to the above embodiments. For example, to determine whether the UE correctly receives a PDCCH, the RAN can configure the UE with an uplink feedback channel resource corresponding to the PDCCH. If the UE needs to transmit uplink feedback information corresponding to the PDCCH, the UE transmits the uplink feedback information in the configured uplink feedback channel resource related to the PDCCH.

[0053] The above-described ways of allocating uplink feedback channel resources for MTCH transmission / MBMS service can also apply to a PDCCH. The MTCH is an exemplary channel carrying MBMS service. The PDCCH schedules a PDSCH, and the PDSCH can include one or more MTCH transmission data and / or MBMS service data. For example, the PDCCH can replace the MTCH transmission in the above embodiments, and the uplink feedback channel resources allocated for one PDCCH scheduling a PDSCH carrying MTCH transmission can replace the uplink feedback channel resources allocated for the MTCH transmission. The UE can transmit uplink feedback information related to a PDCCH through an uplink feedback channel resource corresponding to the PDCCH. For example, the NACK can be allocated an uplink feedback channel resource shared by at least one UE; and / or the DTX can be allocated an uplink feedback channel resource shared by at least one UE.

[0054] In one embodiment, the NACK to be shared by a first UE (UE1) and a second UE (UE2) can be allocated an uplink feedback channel resource, and the DTX to be shared by the UE1 and the UE2 can be allocated an uplink feedback channel resource. In this way, for the UE1 and the UE2, the corresponding uplink feedback can be performed according to the actual decoding of the PDCCH and the PDSCH corresponding to the PDCCH (such as at least one of the following cases).

[0055] For one case, when UE1 and / or UE2 correctly decodes / receives the PDCCH scheduling the PDSCH carrying the MTCH transmission data but incorrectly decodes the PDSCH (i.e., does not correctly decode the PDSCH), UE1 and / or UE2 can report a NACK (or send a predefined signal such as a sequence) in the uplink feedback channel resource corresponding to the NACK shared by UE1 and UE2.

[0056] For another case, when UE1 and / or UE2 incorrectly decodes (i.e., does not correctly decode) the PDCCH scheduling the PDSCH carrying the MTCH transmission data, UE1 and / or UE2 can report a DTX in the uplink feedback channel resource corresponding to the DTX shared by UE1 and UE2 (or send a predefined signal such as a sequence).

[0057] For another case, when UE1 and / or UE2 correctly decodes the PDCCH scheduling the PDSCH carrying the MTCH transmission data and correctly decodes the PDSCH, UE1 and / or UE2 can not send any information in the uplink feedback channel resource corresponding to the NACK and DTX shared by UE1 and UE2.

[0058] For another case, when the uplink feedback channel resource is allocated for an ACK to be shared by UE1 and UE2, and UE1 and / or UE2 correctly decodes the PDCCH scheduling the PDSCH carrying the MTCH transmission data and correctly decodes the PDSCH, UE1 and / or UE2 can report an ACK (or send a predefined signal such as a sequence) in the uplink feedback channel resource corresponding to the ACK shared by UE1 and UE2.

[0059] In this way, the base station can learn that at least one UE does not correctly decode the PDCCH, and thus adjust the code rate used by the PDCCH according to the feedback result of the UE. The UE receives the PDCCH sharing the uplink feedback channel resource, which is beneficial to save the uplink feedback channel resource. In this way, it is equivalent to allocate two shared uplink feedback channel resources for the uplink feedback information related to the PDCCH and the uplink feedback information related to the PDSCH. The UE can only need to send the corresponding uplink feedback information in the case that the PDCCH and / or the PDSCH is not correctly received.

[0060] In another embodiment, the UE can use the uplink feedback channel resource of the unicast service to send the MBMS related uplink feedback information corresponding to the MTCH transmission.

[0061] In one implementation, the RAN and UE can be configured to use the uplink feedback channel resources of the unicast service to transmit uplink feedback information corresponding to the MTCH. That is, it allows the uplink feedback information of the unicast service and the uplink feedback information of the MTCH to be multiplexed on a single uplink feedback channel resource. For example, when the UE needs to transmit uplink feedback information corresponding to a received MTCH, the RAN can configure the uplink feedback channel resources corresponding to the UE's unicast service. The UE can multiplex the uplink feedback information of the unicast service (if any) and the uplink feedback information of the MTCH. The UE can transmit the multiplexed uplink feedback information within the uplink feedback channel resources of the unicast service, thereby saving uplink feedback channel resources. In another implementation, new RRC signaling can be used to indicate whether the UE uses the uplink feedback channel resources of the unicast service to transmit the uplink feedback information of the MTCH. This embodiment may save uplink feedback channel resources and / or provide flexibility in communication configuration.

[0062] In another embodiment, the UE can use the Physical Uplink Shared Channel (PUSCH) for unicast services to send MBMS-related uplink feedback information corresponding to the MTCH transmission. In one embodiment, the RAN and UE can be configured to use the PUSCH for unicast services to carry the uplink feedback information of the MTCH.

[0063] In reference Figure 5 In one implementation, method 400 may further include some or all of the following steps: step 510, for each of at least one UE and each MTCH transmission in at least one MTCH transmission, each UE uses the Physical Uplink Shared Channel (PUSCH) for unicast services to send MBMS-related uplink feedback information corresponding to each MTCH transmission; step 520, each UE generates a Media Access Control (MAC) Control Element (CE) based on the MBMS-related uplink feedback information corresponding to each MTCH transmission; and step 530, each UE sends a MAC CE to the RAN via the PUSCH of the unicast service. In another implementation, when the MAC CE includes uplink feedback information from multiple MTCHs, the order of the uplink feedback information in the MAC CE can be pre-configured and agreed upon, for example, but not limited to, according to the order of MTCH indexing or according to the order of MTCH reception.

[0064] In another embodiment, the method 400 can include transmitting, by each UE, MBMS related uplink feedback information corresponding to each MTCH transmission to the RAN via a PUSCH for unicast traffic. The uplink feedback information can be transmitted directly over the unicast PUSCH. Specifically, the uplink feedback information can be independently encoded and then transmitted using a portion of the PUSCH resources. In another embodiment, the occupied PUSCH resources can no longer be available for transmitting the PUSCH.

[0065] In various embodiments, with reference to Figure 6 A method 600 for wireless communication includes allocating uplink resources for multimedia broadcast multicast (MBMS) uplink feedback information. The method 600 can include some or all of the following steps: step 610, a user equipment (UE) receives configuration information for a feedback window corresponding to a multicast traffic channel (MTCH) transmission in MBMS traffic from a radio access network (RAN); and step 620, the UE determines a resource unit in the feedback window for transmitting MBMS related uplink feedback information corresponding to the MTCH transmission.

[0066] In reference to Figure 7 One embodiment, the feedback window 750 can include N (762) resource units (751, 753, and 755) and a starting position (764) relative to the MTCH transmission (720). N can be the size of the feedback window and can be any positive integer, such as but not limited to 1, 2, 3, 4, 7, 8, 10, 20, etc. When N = 1, the feedback window includes a single resource unit. When N > 1, the feedback window includes more than one resource unit. In one embodiment, the feedback window size for an idle UE can be larger than the feedback window size for an active UE. In Figure 7 In one embodiment, the feedback window 750 includes three resource units, where N = 3. The resource units include one slot / sub-slot.

[0067] In one embodiment, the UE can receive N or the starting position of the feedback window from the RAN via at least one of the following means: a physical downlink control channel (PDCCH), a radio resource control (RRC) message, a medium access control (MAC) control element (CE), or a single cell multicast control channel (SC-MCCH). In another embodiment, the RAN can inform the UE of the feedback window size and the starting position of the feedback window separately. For example, N is configured by the SC-MCCH and the starting position is informed by the PDCCH. As another example, N is configured by the RRC and the starting position is configured by the SC-MCCH. In another embodiment, the RAN can inform the UE of the feedback window size and the starting position of the feedback window together.

[0068] In one embodiment, the MTCH including the transport block can be scheduled by a PDCCH scrambled by an agreed public Radio Network Temporary Identifier (RNTI). The PDCCH can indicate the starting time slot / sub-slot for the transmission of the uplink feedback information corresponding to the MTCH. Together with the window size (N), a feedback window can be constructed for the MTCH to include N time slots / sub-slots from the starting time slot / sub-slot. In one implementation, the feedback window can include the starting time slot / sub-slot. In another implementation, the feedback window can not include the starting time slot / sub-slot.

[0069] The uplink feedback information corresponding to the MTCH can be transmitted in one or more time slots / sub-slots in the feedback window. The RAN (base station) can configure the window size. In one implementation, the base station configures the value of N to the UE through PDCCH, RRC information, MAC CE or SC-MCCH; and the base station can configure the starting time slot / sub-slot of the feedback window to the UE through PDCCH, RRC, SC-MCCH or MAC CE. In another implementation, N can be agreed in advance, or N can be determined based on a default value.

[0070] In one embodiment, the UE can determine which resource unit to use to transmit the MBMS related uplink feedback information corresponding to the MTCH transmission according to at least one of various implementations. In one implementation, the UE can determine the resource unit in the feedback window to use to transmit the MBMS related uplink feedback information corresponding to the MTCH transmission based on the configuration information in the RRC message. In another implementation, the UE can determine the resource unit in the feedback window to use to transmit the MBMS related uplink feedback information corresponding to the MTCH transmission based on a randomly generated value. In another implementation, the UE can determine the resource unit in the feedback window to use to transmit the MBMS related uplink feedback information corresponding to the MTCH transmission based on a value calculated on a Radio Network Temporary Identifier (RNTI).

[0071] Reference Figure 7 A UE receiving the MTCH can determine at least one specific time slot / sub-slot in the feedback window according to the above implementations. Different UEs can be dispersed in different time slots / sub-slots in the feedback window, avoiding the possibility that multiple UEs can concentrate in one time slot / sub-slot for the transmission of the MTCH uplink feedback information, thus alleviating the tension of the uplink feedback channel resources.

[0072] In another embodiment, the base station can configure the size of the feedback window corresponding to the MTCH through SC-MCCH or RRC message. The PDCCH scrambled by the common RNTI can schedule the MTCH transmission, and one or more UEs can receive the PDCCH. The UE can obtain the starting position of the feedback window from the PDCCH of the MTCH. Thus, the UE can determine the size and starting position of the feedback window for sending the uplink feedback information corresponding to the MTCH. In one implementation, the base station can configure the specific time slot / sub-slot of the UE in the feedback window through the SC-MCCH or RRC message via the configuration information. The UE can determine the specific time slot / sub-slot in the feedback window based on the configuration information, and can send the uplink feedback information corresponding to the MTCH with the determined specific time slot / sub-slot. In another implementation, the uplink feedback channel resource in the time slot / sub-slot can be informed through the PDCCH, or the UE can select the corresponding uplink feedback channel resource according to the number of bits of the uplink feedback information.

[0073] In reference to Figure 8 In another embodiment of reference to

[0074] In one implementation, the RAN can send the configuration information to the UE via the SC-MCCH or RRC message. The configuration information can include the starting position of the single time slot / sub-slot. The starting position of the feedback window is relative to the corresponding MTCH transmission.

[0075] In another implementation, the base station can configure the uplink feedback channel resource, and can schedule the PDCCH of the MTCH to indicate the position of the time slot / sub-slot for sending the uplink feedback information. In another implementation, the base station can configure the position of the time slot / sub-slot through the SC-MCCH or RRC message to send the uplink feedback information corresponding to the MTCH. In reference to Figure 8 , the single time slot / sub-slot 850 is configured by the base station as the corresponding uplink feedback channel resource of the MTCH. The time slot / sub-slot 850 can be used to send the uplink feedback information corresponding to the MTCH. The base station can configure the interval 860 between the time slot / sub-slot 820 transmitted by the MTCH and the time slot / sub-slot 850 transmitted by the corresponding uplink feedback information. Thus, the UE determines the position of the time slot / sub-slot of the uplink feedback information corresponding to the MTCH.

[0076] The present disclosure describes methods, apparatus, and computer readable media for wireless communication. The present disclosure addresses issues related to allocating uplink resources for multimedia broadcast multicast (MBMS) uplink feedback information. The methods, devices, and computer readable media described in the present disclosure can facilitate the performance of wireless communication by allocating uplink resources for MBMS uplink feedback information, thereby improving efficiency and overall performance. The methods, devices, and computer readable media described in the present disclosure can improve the overall efficiency of a wireless communication system.

[0077] Reference throughout the specification to "various embodiments," "other embodiments," "some embodiments," and "one embodiment" means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment. The appearances of the phrase "in some embodiments" in various places in the specification are not necessarily referring to the same embodiment.

[0078] Furthermore, the described features, advantages, and characteristics of the technology can be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments. One skilled in the relevant art will recognize, in light of the description herein, that the technology can be practiced without one or more of the specific features or advantages of a particular embodiment. In other instances, additional features and advantages can be recognized in certain embodiments that can not be present in all embodiments. These features and advantages of the technology will become apparent in light of the drawings and the following description.

Claims

1. A method for wireless communications, comprising: allocating, by a radio access network (RAN), uplink resources for transmitting multimedia broadcast multicast service (MBMS) uplink feedback information, comprising: transmitting, by the RAN, at least one MBMS transmission to at least one user equipment (UE) ; and configuring, by the RAN, a plurality of resources for the at least one UE, wherein the plurality of resources comprises at least one resource for transmitting MBMS related uplink feedback information corresponding to the at least one MBMS transmission, wherein the at least one resource is configured for the at least one MBMS transmission, and each of the at least one resource is capable of transmitting a maximum number of bits, respectively; and each of the at least one UE determines one resource from the at least one resource according to a number of transmission bits of the MBMS related uplink feedback information for the each UE, respectively, and the number of transmission bits is no more than the maximum number of bits capable of being transmitted by the one resource, respectively. 2.The method of claim 1, further comprising: transmitting, by the RAN, configuration information to the at least one UE via a configuration message, wherein the configuration information is used for transmitting MBMS related uplink feedback information; wherein configuring comprises a plurality of resources for transmitting MBMS related uplink feedback information corresponding to the at least one MBMS transmission, comprising: configuring, by the RAN, the at least one resource for transmitting the MBMS related uplink feedback information for the at least one UE based on the configuration information. 3.The method of claim 2, wherein: the configuration message comprises at least one of: a single cell multicast control channel (SC-MCCH) message, or a radio resource control (RRC) message. 4.The method of claim 1, wherein: the at least one resource for transmitting MBMS related uplink feedback information comprises a physical uplink control channel (PUCCH).

5. The method of claim 1, wherein, the MBMS related uplink feedback information comprises at least one of: a hybrid automatic repeat request acknowledgement / negative acknowledgement (HARQ-ACK / NACK), or channel state information. 6.The method of claim 1, further comprising: configuring, by the RAN, the plurality of resources for each of the at least one UE, respectively; or configuring, by the RAN, the plurality of resources shared by the at least one UE. 7.The method of claim 1, further comprising: each UE transmits MBMS related uplink feedback information using an uplink feedback channel resource of unicast service; or each UE transmits MBMS related uplink feedback information using a physical uplink shared channel (PUSCH) for unicast service. 8.A method for wireless communications, comprising: determining, by a user equipment (UE), uplink resources for transmitting multimedia broadcast multicast service (MBMS) uplink feedback information, comprising: the UE of the at least one UE receives at least one MBMS transmission and a plurality of resources, the plurality of resources including at least one resource for transmitting MBMS-related uplink feedback information corresponding to the at least one MBMS transmission, each of the at least one resource being capable of transmitting a maximum number of bits, respectively; and the UE of the at least one UE determines at least one resource for transmitting MBMS-related uplink feedback information corresponding to the MBMS transmission, wherein each UE of the at least one UE determines one resource from the at least one resource according to a number of transmission bits of the MBMS-related uplink feedback information for the each UE, respectively, and the number of transmission bits is not greater than the maximum number of bits capable of being transmitted by the one resource, respectively.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein: receiving, by the UE of the at least one UE, at least one MBMS transmission further comprises receiving configuration information for a feedback window from a radio access network (RAN), the feedback window corresponding to the MBMS transmission, the feedback window having N resource units and a starting position relative to the MBMS transmission, and N being a positive integer; and determining, by the UE of the at least one UE, at least one resource for transmitting MBMS-related uplink feedback information corresponding to the MBMS transmission further comprises determining a resource unit in the feedback window for transmitting MBMS-related uplink feedback information corresponding to the MBMS transmission.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein receiving the configuration information for the feedback window corresponding to the MBMS transmission from the RAN comprises: receiving N or the starting position from the RAN via at least one of the following means: a physical downlink control channel (PDCCH), a radio resource control (RRC) message, a medium access control (MAC) control element (CE), or a single cell multicast control channel (SC-MCCH).

11. The method of claim 9, wherein determining a resource unit in the feedback window for transmitting MBMS-related uplink feedback information corresponding to the MBMS transmission comprises: the UE determining the resource unit in the feedback window for transmitting the MBMS-related uplink feedback information corresponding to the MBMS transmission based on a randomly generated value.

12. The method of claim 9, wherein determining a resource unit in the feedback window for transmitting MBMS-related uplink feedback information corresponding to the MBMS transmission comprises: the UE determining the resource unit in the feedback window for transmitting the MBMS-related uplink feedback information corresponding to the MBMS transmission based on a value calculated on a radio network temporary identifier (RNTI).

13. The method of claim 8, further comprising: each UE transmitting MBMS-related uplink feedback information using an uplink feedback channel resource of unicast traffic; or each UE transmits MBMS related uplink feedback information using a physical uplink shared channel, PUSCH, for unicast traffic; and wherein the plurality of resources are configured to be shared by the at least one UE. wherein the plurality of resources are configured to be shared by the at least one UE.

14. A wireless communication device comprising a processor and a memory, wherein, The processor is configured to read the code from the memory and implement a method according to any of claims 1 to 13.

15. A computer program product comprising computer readable program medium code stored on the computer program product, the code, when executed by a processor, causing the processor to implement a method according to any of claims 1 to 13.

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